Pickin' and Grinnin'

Saturday morning we went to pick blackberries out near Sorgum Mill. I've never done this before but upon hearing about it, my "Mom-ometer" registered the potential for a learning experience very high. So I dragged my short guys on the adventure with me. It really was a lot of fun (and very hot sprinkled with a healthy amount of bugs.) We learned quickly which ones to pick and which ones to leave on the vine.

"Kid Two, how do we know this is a blackberry bush?" I asked him. "We just do, Mom. It has blackberries on it. Whudderya blind?" he responds. "You're right," I confirmed. "We know the tree by its fruit."

We began a good long talk about how Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The world will only know us by our fruit. Kid One rattled off the Fruits of the Spirit and we all agreed self-control is perhaps the toughest when you're young. (okay, when you're older too!) As we picked the berries we thanked Jesus for such beautiful, great tasting fruit. We thanked him for being our Vine -- and pruning us, watering us and nourishing us while we are connected to him. And we also saw what happens to the berries who are no longer on the vine. (They were all squished on the ground or dried up...)

What a terrific 20 minutes of bringing scripture to life!
John 15:5 -- "I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing."